Twice during the past seven years, men stood where Dan Mullen did Monday. Both are gone.

Mullen, the Florida Gators’ next head football coach, said this time will be different. After spending the past nine seasons at Mississippi State, the 45-year-old plans to be in Gainesville for a long while.

Will Muschamp and Jim McElwain did, too. When each was hired, he offered big plans and promises to return UF football the nation’s elite.

Unlike them, Mullen has been there, calling plays for Urban Meyer’s two national championship teams.

“There's a mindset and a standard of expectation here,” Mullen said. “I think that's one of the reasons I’m here. The program wasn’t at the expectation level of the fan base, of everybody involved in the Gator Nation.

“… That’s the challenge for me. I love challenges. I absolutely love it. And I have as high of expectations as anybody in this room for what this program is going to be like.”

Mullen faces an uphill climb.

The Gators have had two losing seasons since 1980, both during the past five years.

A day after agreeing to a six-year, $36 million contract, Mullen arrived in Gainesville Monday morning with eyes wide open to the task of rebuilding the Gators following a 4-7 finish.

He also showed he knew how to play to the crowd.

Mullen stepped off the university’s plane doing the Gator Chomp. On his left hand, Mullen wore the ring he received with the 2008 national title team — bling he never had worn prior to Monday.

Mullen made all the right moves for a smattering of fans and reporters at UF’s private air strip. Later, Mullen won the press conference, with UF legend Steve Spurrier and Gator greats Shane Matthews, Steve Tannen and Scot Brantley on hand.

The offensive-minded Mullen discussed Spurrier’s influence, recalled the days coaching Tim Tebow and addressed the biggest concern for a beleaguered fan base.

“Coach Spurrier might argue with me; I don't know if there’s anyone in this room who likes scoring points more than me, you know what I mean,” Mullen said. “I love scoring points. Right. We can score a hundred. I'll keep going.

“I love scoring points.”

Known for his ability to develop quarterbacks, Mullen will look to identify one and energize an offense ranked near the bottom of the SEC since Tebow’s final season in 2009.

Besides Tebow, Mullen coached 2005 NFL No. 1 pick Alex Smith at Utah, 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Dak Prescott at Mississippi State and other top quarterbacks, including Josh Harris at Bowling Green, Chris Leak at UF and Nick Fitzgerald the past two seasons in Starkville.

Mullen checked off a long list of qualities he will seek in UF’s next signal-caller — leadership, decision-making, intelligence, accuracy — but said one stands out above all.

“If you want to put it in one word, it's winners,” he said.

But Mullen’s plans to evaluate and re-shape every facet of the Gators’ languishing program.

Mullen met with his new team Monday and immediately addressed academics, off-the-field discipline and the team’s offseason conditioning program.

This past summer’s credit-card fraud scandal led to nine suspensions and derailed McElwain’s third season at UF.

When dealing with discipline issues, Mullen said he will ask himself: “Is it a mistake or is it a core-value issue?”

The Gators’ strength and conditioning program has been at issue since a season-opening loss to Michigan and played a major role in UF athletics director Scott Stricklin’s decision to hire Mullen.

“It's the backbone,” Stricklin said. “I think any successful program has a really strong strength and conditioning program that builds accountability and I think programs that aren't as successful usually are lacking in that area.”

Stricklin had a first-hand view at Mullen’s approach while the two worked together at Mississippi State, seven when Stricklin served as the school’s athletics director (2010-16) prior to leaving for UF.

A Jackson native and 1992 graduate of Mississippi State, Stricklin struggled with the decision to pursue Mullen and potentially leave his former school without the coach who had taken the Bulldogs to new heights.

Mississippi State, 8-4 this season, has appeared in a bowl game every year since 2010 after reaching just one bowl game during the previous nine seasons.

“I was hoping to find somebody I thought was better than Dan,” Stricklin said.

Stricklin and his staff pursued Chip Kelly and talked with UCF coach Scott Frost. Six UF officials, including Florida president Kent Fuchs, even flew to New Hampshire Nov. 21 to meet with Kelly.

When Kelly chose UCLA and Frost feigned interest, UF’s pursuit of Kelly made Mullen seem to be the Gators’ third choice.

In the end, though, Stricklin said Mullen was the best choice.

“When I got to that point where I realized Dan is the guy, he's the right guy, I kind cinched my belt and said, ‘We've got to do this, we don't have a choice,’” Stricklin said.

Mullen is grateful for the chance.

“I think when you're at the University of Florida, you have the opportunity to hire just about anybody in the country,” Mullen said. “I can promise you that I will give relentless effort in everything I do to make sure that we return the football program to a national championship level.”

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UF coach Dan Mullen discusses the first full week of Gators' preseason camp.

UF coach Dan Mullen discusses the first full week of Gators' preseason camp.

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UF coach Dan Mullen discusses the first full week of Gators' preseason camp.

UF coach Dan Mullen discusses the first full week of Gators' preseason camp.

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The Gators will hold their first scrimmage of preseason camp on Monday. UF coach Dan Mullen discusses what he hopes to accomplish.

The Gators will hold their first scrimmage of preseason camp on Monday. UF coach Dan Mullen discusses what he hopes to accomplish.

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UF Dan Mullen is confident in the Gators' first-team offensive line. But he said it is critical to develop two or three other players who can step in without the line missing a beat.

UF Dan Mullen is confident in the Gators' first-team offensive line. But he said it is critical to develop two or three other players who can step in without the line missing a beat.

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UF coach Dan Mullen said he has not had to push the Gators to give more effort each day. Players are showing up to practice each day ready to give maximum effort.

UF coach Dan Mullen said he has not had to push the Gators to give more effort each day. Players are showing up to practice each day ready to give maximum effort.

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UF coach Dan Mullen discusses the installation of the offensive and defensive schemes during camp. He said he'd like to see the Gators picking it up a little bit faster.

UF coach Dan Mullen discusses the installation of the offensive and defensive schemes during camp. He said he'd like to see the Gators picking it up a little bit faster.